Shortly after the President's 2019 State of the Nation Address or SONA, Metro Manila Mayors are quick to respond with their own street cleanup drives. These are all in accordance with the President's directive to rid the streets of all obstructions to help free up traffic.

For his part, newly-elected Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, in a memorandum dated July 30 addressed to all barangay chairpersons in his city, ordered that all barangays conduct road clearing operations and remove all obstructions from public roads as soon as possible.

Additionally, the mayor reminded Pasig City residents that closing a public road is illegal. Any barangay official or personnel that permits the closure of any public road will be suspended and appropriate charges will be filed against him or her.

“Bawal magsara ng mga pampublikong kalsada. May mga barangay na nagbebenta pa ng sticker. Narinig niyo na ang direktiba ni Presidente Duterte. Natanggap niyo na rin ang DILG Memorandum at ang Memorandum mula sa akin nung ika-30 ng Hulyo (The closure of public roads is not allowed. There are even barangays that sell stickers. All of you heard the directive of President Duterte. All of you have received the DILG Memorandum, as well as the Memorandum that came from me last July 30)” said Sotto.

With the road clearing operations expected to decongest traffic in the city, Sotto is hopeful that this will further alleviate the worsening traffic conditions in Pasig. And with the retraining of its traffic enforcers already underway, better traffic flow and proper enforcement of traffic rules and regulations will further help motorists be on their way.

As the rest of the Metro Manila Mayors continue to free up road space, Vico Sotto is keeping his promise of improving Pasig. Here's to the Mayor for trying to make a difference.